Look For Field Hockey Powers To Shine Again The Expanded Piaa State Tournament Meets With Approval From Area Coaches

August 28, 1986|by RICKI STEIN, The Morning Call

Local scholastic field hockey teams can begin the season knowing that PIAA officials recognize their superior abilities. For the first time, two teams from Class AA and two from AAA (instead of one each) will represent District 11 at the PIAA State Tournament in Shippensburg.

"Finally," was the unanimous expression from coaches polled for this preview.

"All right," added Easton coach Terry Melick. "We deserve it. The caliber of hockey we play here in this region warrants it. It's a shame it took so long to get two reps."

EAST PENN CONFERENCE

Easton and Emmaus have represented the district more times than any other team in the East Penn Conference. The two schools, along with Allen and Phillipsburg, should make up the top four teams in the 10-school league.

The EPC welcomes three new coaches: Robin Lawrence at Northampton, Joanne Geiger at Liberty and Denise Martino at Whitehall.

While most coaches have to worry from year-to-year how many of their top players will graduate, 11-year Emmaus coach Sue Butz never seems to run out of good players. The Hornettes went 18-0 in the league and 20-1-1 overall last year. Four graduated. A "slew" of freshman and sophomores were among the 40 candidates who showed up for the first few days of practice.

"We're really gonna be young this year," said fifth-year coach Terry Melick, as she does at the beginning of each season. Two out of the past four years her teams have started slowly, then come along to win the District 11 AAA Championship. "We'll be inexperienced, but the potential is there."

If Melick was being cautious, Allen's Anne Wenninger was absolutely reticent. "I'm not counting us as a contender this year," she insisted. "We have no offense. We're very young. We're gonna have a hard time getting the ball in the cage unless a lot of kids mature real fast. Of course, when I said that last year, it happened. I'd rather be pleasantly surprised."

The Colonial League hasn't had much chance in the past few years to send any teams into the state tournament because Moravian Academy (which plays an independent schedule) has won the District 11 AA Tournament the last two years.

Catasauqua opens the season as defending league champion and is favored along with the perennial contenders, Palisades, Southern Lehigh and Saucon Valley. Coaches said the league should be well balanced, however.

Coach Phyllis Miller, in her 17th year, said her girls have good speed and lots of experience.

Five seniors graduated from the Palisades squad. Coach Nancy Kemmerer, in her 15th year, said the group she is working with is enthusiastic. Returning players include Lisa Bahner, Stacey Becker, goalie Lynn Ladner, Jenny Brown, Mary Miller and Mary Lou Grim.

"Our problem will be finding an aggressive front line," Kemmerer said. "We're going to be another young team, although most have had some varsity experience.

Southern Lehigh coach Pat Dierking, in her 15th year, lost 12 seniorslast year. "Three girls are back and one of them can play," she said. "We're young. Our sophomores will play a lot."

The only player Dierking would mention is Bonnie Weaver, who made an all- star team at Mid-Atlantic Camp in Delaware. Southern Lehigh won the finals of the camp tournament.

The Centennial League features the only two area players who were selected on the Keystone Games East Region Team, which won the gold medal. Kathy Jordan of East Stroudsburg and Erica Vanderbeck of Palmerton should add plenty of experience to their respective teams.